Electric clock mechanism



June 12, 1934. GALBRlGHT 1,962,378

ELECTRIC CLOCK MECHANISM Filed May 9, 1930 John. 6 Albrisht I. NVENTOK ATTQ RNEj- Patented June 12, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to electric clock mechanisms and has for its object the provision of a new and improved construction of this type. In the drawing accompanying this specification, and

5 forming a part of this application, I have shown,

for purposes of illustration, one form which my invention may assume, and in the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational, generally diagrammatic view, of one embodiment of the invention, while Figure 2 is a similar view showing a different embodiment of the invention.

As shown in the embodiment disclosed in Figure 1, and as shown in diagrammatic form, the device comprises a source of energy 10, which may be a small dry battery, having a conductor 11 extending from one pole of the battery to the fixed contact 12, and the other pole of the battery connected by a conductor 13 with a fixed contact 14. Fixedly connected with the contact 14 is one end of a thermally responsive contractibleexpansible element 15, having its opposite end connected, as at 16, to a resilient phosphor bronze pendulum strip 1"], pivotally supported as at 18 upon the fixed block 19. The pendulum strip 17 is of appreciable length, extending considerably below the fixed contact 12, and adjacent its free end is provided with a pendulum head 20, slidably mounted upon the strip 17, and adapted to be adjustably secured in various positions through manipulation of the set screw 21. The pendulum strip 1'7, in line with the contact 12, is provided with a contact 22 adapted to engage the contact 12.

Pivotally and slidably connected at any suitable point along the pendulum strip 17, as at 23, is an arm 24 of a bell-crank lever 60, pivotally supported, as at 25, upon a stationary block 26. The other arm 2'7 of the lever 25 carries a pivoted pawl 28, yieldably connected to the arm 27 by a spring 29, and adapted to engage the teeth 30 of a gear 31 rotatable about the stud 32, to impart a step by step movement to the gear 31. A resilient finger 33 is provided, supported as at 34, and having a curved portion 35 yieldably engageable with the teeth 30 of the gear 31, thus to insure rotation of the gear 31 at least a full tooth at each operation of the arm 2''! and prevent retrograde rotation of the gear 31. The gear 31 is adapted to drive a train of gears, one of which is indicated at 36, which may be connected with time indicating means in any usual manner.

In operation, assuming the pendulum strip 17 to be in the position shown in full lines in Figure 1, it will be perceived that the circuit with the battery 10 is open; this results in cooling of the thermally responsive element 15 and consequent contraction, causing the element 15 to move the pendulum strip 1'! toward the fixed contact 12, bringing about engagement of the contact 12 with the contact 22 of the pendulum, and the circuit established through the pendulum strip 1? as will be understood. When the circuit is closed the thermally responsive element 15 becomes heated, elongates, and permits the pendulum strip 17 to swing outwardly, breaking engagement between the contacts 12 and 22, after which the element 15 again cools and re-establishes the circuit. This operation will continue indefinitely, or so long as the energy supplied by the battery 10 endures.

Without the pendulum, the make and break in the circuit above described, takes place with great rapidity, and not with constant regularity, as will be appreciated; however due to the provision of the pendulum, at each make and break of the circuit, the pendulum will be swung to one extreme position, and will retard, and time, the return of the element 15 to its opposite condition; thus although the pendulum 1'? is driven by the make and break device, yet it imposes upon the make and break device such positive control, as to require operation in measured unvarying cycles, which, however, may be adjusted by adjusting the pendulum head 20 along the pendulum strip 17, so that adjustment of the duration of time intervals in which the device operates, may be obtained.

With this construction the clock mechanism is driven through the movement of the pendulum, so as to obtain exactly timed movements of a train of gears constituting the time indicating means. When the pendulum strip 17 swings outwardly to the full line position shown in Figure 1, clockwise movement is imparted to the bell crank lever 60, resulting in the pawl 28 rotating the gear 31 one tooth. The finger 33 then operates to hold the gear 31, and when the pendulum moves in the opposite direction the bell crank lever 60 will be moved in a counter-clockwise direction and the pawl 28 will yieldably pass over the teeth of the gear 31 and reach a position such that upon the next movement of the pendulum it will advance the gear 31 one more tooth.

From the above description it will be apparent that the clock mechanism is driven by the electrically operated make and break device, and that through the provision of the control for the electrical device, as provided by the pendulum, exactly measured intervals of time are imposed upon the driving mechanism.

Referring to Figure 2 the device includes a battery 40, conductors 41 and 42, a thermally responsive element 43, a pendulum strip 44 with an adjustable head 45, pivotally mounted as at 46, having a contact 4'7 adapted to engage the fixed contact 63, these parts being similar to those heretofore referred to. In this embodiment of the invention instead of driving the clock mechanism directly from the pendulum the drive is effected Wtttllltmmmmu through means interposed in the circuit and 0perated at regular intervals by the make and break in the circuit.

For this purpose a solenoid coil 48 is interposed in the circuit, having for its armature the end 49 of a lever 50 pivoted at 51, and normally urged away from the solenoid coil by a spring 52. The end 49 of the lever 50 has a rod 53 pivotally connected thereto at one end, and its opposite end is pivotally connected to one end of the lever 54, i'ulcrumed at 61, and at its opposite end carrying a pivoted pawl 55, yieldably connected to the lever 54 by a spring 62, and adapted to engage the teeth 56 of the gear 57. A finger 58 similar to the finger 33 heretofore described is provided for insuring proper movement of the gear 57. The gear 57 is adapted to drive a gear 59 which may form one of a train of gears connected with suitable time indicating mechanism.

The construction disclosed in Figure 2 and described above operates in a similar manner to that described in connection with Figure 1, with one important exception; instead of the clock mechanism being directly connected to the pendulum 44, the clock mechanism is driven through operation of the solenoid 48, as intermittently energized by the circuit, controlled by the pendulum. When the contacts 47 and 63 engage each other the solenoid 48 will be energized, attracting the end 49 of the lever 50, causing downward movement of the rod 53, and movement of the pawl 55 to effect rotation of the gear 57 one tooth. When the solenoid 48 is de-energized by the opening of the circuit, the spring 52 acts on the lever 50 to cause raising of the end 49, upward movement of the rod 53, and retraction of the pawl 55 to its initial position, the finger 58 of course preventing accidental movement of the gear 57, and also insuring that the gear 5'7 moves the same distance at each actuation.

From the above description those skilled in the art will appreciate that I have produced a new and improved electric clock mechanism and accordingly that I have accomplished at least the principal object of my invention. At the same time those skilled in the art will realize that the particular embodiment of my invention herein shown and described embodies advantages and uses other than those specifically pointed out or suggested herein, and also that this particular embodiment of my invention may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit oi the invention, or sacrificing any of the advantages inherent in the invention, wherefore it will be understood that the disclosure herein is illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim:

I. A time-keeping apparatus, comprising: clock mechanism; an electric circuit including a stationary contact; an expansible member forming part of said circuit and actuable by said circuit; resilient control means forming part of said circult, and having a contact adapted to engage said stationary contact, said control means being driven by said expansible member, and fulcrumed by abutment of said contacts to effect flexing of said resilient control means beyond said stationary contact, said resilient control means being operable to control said circuit to effect timed operations thereof; and means, controlled by the timed operations of said circuit for driving said clock mechanism.

2. A time-keeping apparatus, comprising: clock mechanism; an electric circuit including a stationary contact; an expansible member forming part of said circuit and actuable by said circuit; a resilient pendulum forming part of said circuit and having a contact engageable with said stationary contact, said resilient pendulum being permanently secured directly to said expansible member, driven by said expansible member, and fulcrumed by abutment of said contacts to effect flexing of said resilient pendulum beyond said stationary contact, said resilient pendulum being operable to control said circuit to eil'ect timed operations thereof; and means, controlled by the timed operations of said circiut for driving said clock mechanism.

3. A timekeeping apparatus, comprising: clock mechanism; an electric circuit; a stationary contact in said circuit; a resilient pendulum in said circuit, anchored at one end and having its opposite end free, said pendulum being swingable about its point of anchorage and having a contact engageable with said stationary contact; a thermal element in said circuit, permanently electrically connected to said pendulum, actuable by said circuit, and operable to move said resilient pendulum about its point of anchorage, said resilient pendulum being fulcrumed by abutment of said contacts to effect flexing of said pendulum beyond said stationary contact, said pendulum being operable to control said circuit to efiect timed operations thereof; and means connected with said clock mechanism and slidably con- 1;

nected with said pendulum, operable through relative movement of said pendulum and said slidable connection to transmit movement of said pendulum to said clock mechanism.

4. A time-keeping apparatus, comprising: clock mechanism; an electric circuit; a stationary contact in said circuit; a resilient pendulum in said circuit, anchored at one end and having its opposite end free, said pendulum being swingable about its point of anchorage and having a contact engageable with said stationary contact; a thermal element in said circuit, permanently electrically connected to said pendulum, actuable by said circuit, and operable to move said resilient pendulum about its said resilient pendulum is fulcrumed by abutment of said contacts to street flexing of said pendulum beyond said stationary contact, said pendulum being operable to control said circuit to efiect timed operations thereof; and a solenoid,

in said circuit, periodically energized through the timed operations of said circuit, operable to transmit said timed operations of said circuit to said clock mechanism.

JOHN G. ALBRIGHT.

point of anchorage, whereby iii) 

